Introduction - September 2, 2007
I am back in Canada, after spending 6 weeks in Nigeria, on my volunteer work experience with Global Relief. I want to thank all of you who supported my financial expenses to see this trip through. Getting to Nigeria, and raising the money was nothing short of a miracle. My passport and my approved VISA arrived in the mail only 20 minutes before I scrambled out the door to catch my flight. I knew it was coming, but what a test of faith, up until the last moments!! What is more, I calculated all the funds needed to cover my expenses for the trip, including the accomodations, food, (funds to Global Relief), medical, VISA, travel insurance, etc. , NOT including the flight, and I needed 5230$ to raise to cover the expenses... guess what, I raised exactly 5235$ - five dollars to spare! Incredible. Miracles have been every step of the way.
The summer was a time of growth and learning. It was trying at times, and foreign. I got sick quite often adjusting to the new environment and the food - so I had to be careful about everything, chronic hand washing, bottled water only, bland foods, etc. I just don't understand what was attacking my system... and being sick there is no laughing matter. I am only glad I am home and well... I have put this BLOG together in the first week back from Nigeria and I am still quite sick actually - with a cold and flu, and what ever bug hitched hiked its way home with me... so I am hoping I will be better soon, I still havent been able to see many of you due to my illness. And as soon as I get my voice back I will change the answering machine message, smiles.
There was so much I experienced in Nigeria, its hard to really capture it all on film or even in words.. this BLOG is only tidbits of this and that... I only hope it opens but a window into the culture there, and my experience of it. Cheers.
Summer Action Plan - Debriefing - What I Did This Past Summer...
The following is a summary of my volunteer experience with Global Relief, July 14-August 27, 2007.
Summer Action Plan Objectives
1. To learn about Global Relief (its objectives, history, development action, values, etc.) and to learn about other Nigerian Development NGOs and development agencies and how they function.
2. To participate in Global Relief development action and gain field work experience.
3. To establish partnership relationships between Global Relief and other donors, development NGOs, churches, etc.
4. To help strengthen Global Relief international volunteer program.
5. To debrief summer 2007 and plan Global Relief-Canada relations.
- - - - - - -
Objective 2: *To participate in Global Relief development action and gain field work experience.
*Participation in pre-trip; developed research outline for community participation data and physical observations about water and disease; created research questions and an excel spreadsheet for the purpose of recording community participatory data.
*Participation in Global Relief’s community sensitization outreach (including a presentation on “Barriers to Changing Society Habits-The Connection between Canada & Africa”)
*Volunteer research team, collected data from villagers about their understanding of water needs and disease, water sample collection, etc.
*Participation in debriefing(prepare the debriefing report)
Objective 3: *To establish partnership relationships between Global Relief and other donors, development NGOs, churches, etc.
I participated in a range of advocacy visits to development organizations. Some of these included:
RURCON (Rural and Urban Counseling and Outreach in Nigeria) (A non-profit group that works to education church leaders and other development organization employees and leaders about “holistic development”, ie. Understanding poverty, good governance, advocacy skills, etc.)
COWAN (A non-profit group that works to empower women in Nigeria, through micro-economic programs, and is active in other development programs including water and sanitation)
CAFOD (A non-profit catholic organization that works in development, including improving primary health care, water sanitation, etc.)
JDPC (Justice Development & Peace Commission) (A non-profit catholic organization that works to promote justice for the marginalize, train religious leaders for development ministry, initiate rural and urban development programs, etc.)
NEMA (National Emergency Management Association) (Federally funded non-profit organization that administers emergency management in Nigeria)
TearFund (UK based non-profit groups that works in poverty reduction development programs)
InterGender( A non-profit group that works in community improvement programs, TB and AIDs education, etc. )
ProHealth International Africa (A larger non-profit organization that administers a health program (medical teams, etc.)
CRCWR- (Christian Reformed World Relief Committee) (A non-profit involved in relief projects in Nigeria, and other places in the world; health relief, AIDs outreach, etc.)
Objective 4: *To help strengthen Global Relief international volunteer program.
*I was the first, not just Canadian volunteer to work with Global Relief, but first international - so much of the time was setting the ground work for the continuation of international volunteers. I was their "guinea pig" in other words, as much as they were mine...
*A volunteer manual of policies and procedures was devised; an outline first drafted, then both volunteer by-laws and a volunteer information package were produced.
Objective 5: *To debrief summer 2007 and plan Global Relief-Canada relations.
An action plan for Global Relief-Canada (things to do) was devised and the board of Global Relief accepted my role as Global Relief Canadian Facilitator to help promote their poverty reduction programs, etc.
Summer Action Plan Objectives
1. To learn about Global Relief (its objectives, history, development action, values, etc.) and to learn about other Nigerian Development NGOs and development agencies and how they function.
2. To participate in Global Relief development action and gain field work experience.
3. To establish partnership relationships between Global Relief and other donors, development NGOs, churches, etc.
4. To help strengthen Global Relief international volunteer program.
5. To debrief summer 2007 and plan Global Relief-Canada relations.
- - - - - - -
Objective 2: *To participate in Global Relief development action and gain field work experience.
*Participation in pre-trip; developed research outline for community participation data and physical observations about water and disease; created research questions and an excel spreadsheet for the purpose of recording community participatory data.
*Participation in Global Relief’s community sensitization outreach (including a presentation on “Barriers to Changing Society Habits-The Connection between Canada & Africa”)
*Volunteer research team, collected data from villagers about their understanding of water needs and disease, water sample collection, etc.
*Participation in debriefing(prepare the debriefing report)
Objective 3: *To establish partnership relationships between Global Relief and other donors, development NGOs, churches, etc.
I participated in a range of advocacy visits to development organizations. Some of these included:
RURCON (Rural and Urban Counseling and Outreach in Nigeria) (A non-profit group that works to education church leaders and other development organization employees and leaders about “holistic development”, ie. Understanding poverty, good governance, advocacy skills, etc.)
COWAN (A non-profit group that works to empower women in Nigeria, through micro-economic programs, and is active in other development programs including water and sanitation)
CAFOD (A non-profit catholic organization that works in development, including improving primary health care, water sanitation, etc.)
JDPC (Justice Development & Peace Commission) (A non-profit catholic organization that works to promote justice for the marginalize, train religious leaders for development ministry, initiate rural and urban development programs, etc.)
NEMA (National Emergency Management Association) (Federally funded non-profit organization that administers emergency management in Nigeria)
TearFund (UK based non-profit groups that works in poverty reduction development programs)
InterGender( A non-profit group that works in community improvement programs, TB and AIDs education, etc. )
ProHealth International Africa (A larger non-profit organization that administers a health program (medical teams, etc.)
CRCWR- (Christian Reformed World Relief Committee) (A non-profit involved in relief projects in Nigeria, and other places in the world; health relief, AIDs outreach, etc.)
Objective 4: *To help strengthen Global Relief international volunteer program.
*I was the first, not just Canadian volunteer to work with Global Relief, but first international - so much of the time was setting the ground work for the continuation of international volunteers. I was their "guinea pig" in other words, as much as they were mine...
*A volunteer manual of policies and procedures was devised; an outline first drafted, then both volunteer by-laws and a volunteer information package were produced.
Objective 5: *To debrief summer 2007 and plan Global Relief-Canada relations.
An action plan for Global Relief-Canada (things to do) was devised and the board of Global Relief accepted my role as Global Relief Canadian Facilitator to help promote their poverty reduction programs, etc.
Advocacy Visits
Advocacy Visits With Development NGOS...
Part of my job while volunteering with Global Relief in the summer was to be apart of advocacy visits to other development agencies, and possible donors, etc. to build partnerships and support for Global Relief.
COWAN (A Nigerian based non-profit organization that works to empower women (ie. through micro-credit programs, etc. )
RURCON
Global Relief held a couple volunteer training sessions for all GR volunteers. Here is a fellow from RURCON, who came out to train us on 'biblical perspective of development' and 'advocacy skills"...
Working with Kenny and Bala - post - water project - debriefing - and making sense out of the data we collected from the villagers.
Visit to NEMA (National Emergency Management Assoc.) - President of NEMA in white...
Part of my job while volunteering with Global Relief in the summer was to be apart of advocacy visits to other development agencies, and possible donors, etc. to build partnerships and support for Global Relief.
COWAN (A Nigerian based non-profit organization that works to empower women (ie. through micro-credit programs, etc. )
RURCON
Global Relief held a couple volunteer training sessions for all GR volunteers. Here is a fellow from RURCON, who came out to train us on 'biblical perspective of development' and 'advocacy skills"...
Working with Kenny and Bala - post - water project - debriefing - and making sense out of the data we collected from the villagers.
Visit to NEMA (National Emergency Management Assoc.) - President of NEMA in white...
Nearing the End
We head back to Abuja on the 24th of August. We will be staying in Abuja the last couple days before my flight home on the 27th. On Saturday night, I joined Deji, the pastor of the UMCA church, on an outreach program, ministering to the prostitutes in one of the poorest areas in Abuja, the Mpape community.
The group split up into two, I went with Deji, we spoke with a girl named Comfort, who has only been in the brothel for a year, but works to support her two kids 8 and 5 that she hasnt seen for a year. She feels she has no other choice, and also thinks she can leave and get herself out of this mess when she wants to. Yet so many women here, contract AIDS, or are murdered, abused by men... under constant threat of the police as well. It is not a way to live, it is a way to die. Deji church ministers to the prostitutes and tries to get these women out of this living arrangement and going to church.
Sunday, Deji calls me up at the church to speak about my experience with Global Relief - I talk for 7 minutes approximately. My last bit of work, and advocacy. It feels strange to think 6 weeks has gone by. I am glad I have the pictures to prove that I was here, because it seems like it whized by, and never happened at all... My flight will be early morning... and we will have to drive in the dark to get me there. I am thankful there were no complications on the way, no delays, no road blocks, no troubles with customs, no problems with the flight... 20 hours later... I arrive in Canada, with my mom waiting to hug me.
Outreach team in Abuja
Brothel in Mpape Community...
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We head back to Abuja on the 24th of August. We will be staying in Abuja the last couple days before my flight home on the 27th. On Saturday night, I joined Deji, the pastor of the UMCA church, on an outreach program, ministering to the prostitutes in one of the poorest areas in Abuja, the Mpape community.
The group split up into two, I went with Deji, we spoke with a girl named Comfort, who has only been in the brothel for a year, but works to support her two kids 8 and 5 that she hasnt seen for a year. She feels she has no other choice, and also thinks she can leave and get herself out of this mess when she wants to. Yet so many women here, contract AIDS, or are murdered, abused by men... under constant threat of the police as well. It is not a way to live, it is a way to die. Deji church ministers to the prostitutes and tries to get these women out of this living arrangement and going to church.
Sunday, Deji calls me up at the church to speak about my experience with Global Relief - I talk for 7 minutes approximately. My last bit of work, and advocacy. It feels strange to think 6 weeks has gone by. I am glad I have the pictures to prove that I was here, because it seems like it whized by, and never happened at all... My flight will be early morning... and we will have to drive in the dark to get me there. I am thankful there were no complications on the way, no delays, no road blocks, no troubles with customs, no problems with the flight... 20 hours later... I arrive in Canada, with my mom waiting to hug me.
Outreach team in Abuja
Brothel in Mpape Community...
.
NYSC - National Youth Service Core
When you are finished University in Nigeria, there is a compulsory work period where you must work for the government. You are not given a choice as to where the job is (could be anywhere in Nigeria) or what you will be doing, yet it will be in your field of study. Can you imagine, after paying for University for 4 years, then now having to work for the government. They all pay their own way, yet have to serve their country for a year, before they can then go and find the jobs they have gone to school for...
Nigerian Arts
I asked Oche(Global Relief volunteer) to give me some names of musicians, artists, etc. that are well-known in Nigeria. He gave me the following list:
Musician - Two Face Edibia
Movie Stars- Geneviarre and Omotala (household names he says)
Author- Chenua Achebe (most celebrated author he says)
I just thought Id pass these along, I haven't looked them up yet, but I did bring back Nigerian music (thanks Nepo & Linda). It is important. One step to building a global community is learning about the art, music, etc. of another country. Try it.
When you are finished University in Nigeria, there is a compulsory work period where you must work for the government. You are not given a choice as to where the job is (could be anywhere in Nigeria) or what you will be doing, yet it will be in your field of study. Can you imagine, after paying for University for 4 years, then now having to work for the government. They all pay their own way, yet have to serve their country for a year, before they can then go and find the jobs they have gone to school for...
Nigerian Arts
I asked Oche(Global Relief volunteer) to give me some names of musicians, artists, etc. that are well-known in Nigeria. He gave me the following list:
Musician - Two Face Edibia
Movie Stars- Geneviarre and Omotala (household names he says)
Author- Chenua Achebe (most celebrated author he says)
I just thought Id pass these along, I haven't looked them up yet, but I did bring back Nigerian music (thanks Nepo & Linda). It is important. One step to building a global community is learning about the art, music, etc. of another country. Try it.
August 10th 2007
We could play bunch buggy here in Jos, like the good ol days when we were growing up. It was one of my favorite games, and it puts a smile on my face seeing all the beetle bugs still around.
House compounds here are either lined with twisted barbwire, or scrap metal, or broken glass. Is the threat of someone coming in so great? Is this the result because of the growing gap between rich and poor? I think my friends here found it intersting when I explained that we don't have these sort of walls in Canada for security.
Corn grows in every available space of land open - in front of houses, along roadsides, etc. It is the wet season after all and the time for growth. I tasted the corn, tough and paste-y(starch), nothing like our good ol Chilliwack sweet corn. (There is so much garbage everywhere, that even the soil the vegetables grow in are mixed with garbage as if it were fertilizer.)
.
We could play bunch buggy here in Jos, like the good ol days when we were growing up. It was one of my favorite games, and it puts a smile on my face seeing all the beetle bugs still around.
House compounds here are either lined with twisted barbwire, or scrap metal, or broken glass. Is the threat of someone coming in so great? Is this the result because of the growing gap between rich and poor? I think my friends here found it intersting when I explained that we don't have these sort of walls in Canada for security.
Corn grows in every available space of land open - in front of houses, along roadsides, etc. It is the wet season after all and the time for growth. I tasted the corn, tough and paste-y(starch), nothing like our good ol Chilliwack sweet corn. (There is so much garbage everywhere, that even the soil the vegetables grow in are mixed with garbage as if it were fertilizer.)
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